LOWELLVILLE Rockets look to go out in style

The village's high school gymnasium will see its final action Friday.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
LOWELLVILLE -- The Lowellville High boys basketball team has lost 28 straight games, but it has an opportunity to end its streak in a historical way.
With former Lowellville basketball players invited to attend Friday for free, the Rockets (0-6) will play struggling Leetonia (1-5) in the high school gymnasium's final game.
"It's going to be an emotional night for all of us, playing in that facility for the last time and closing that place up," Lowellville coach Dennis Hynes said.
"A lot of these kids have parents who played here and grandparents who played here," Hynes said. "We're stressing that you have to be proud to wear that uniform. People coming to that place have a lot of memories, and you can't disappoint them."
Setting the stage
The girls certainly didn't last week when they routed Crestview 70-48, giving way to the boys finale, with the junior varsity game beginning at 6 p.m.
"A lot of teams hated going there," said Hynes, a 1988 Lowellville graduate who played for the Rockets. "They thought it was too dark, too crowded and too hot. To us, it was a great place."
Lowellville is gearing up for the opening of its new school, located near the football stadium, on the newly-named 52 Rocket Way.
Students will start there on Jan. 6, with a boys-girls varsity doubleheader against Western Reserve slated to open the new gym on Jan. 10.
Construction on the $13 million school began in July 2001.
Advantages
The new school includes two gyms, which will allow Lowellville to hold four practices at one time. It will also prevent some of its younger teams from practicing in Struthers and save the school money from gym rentals.
"We'll be able to get four teams done right after school, which will be nice," said Lowellville athletic director Robert Ballone, who is also helping to organize an elementary basketball program.
The high school gym holds 800 fans, doubling that of the old venue. A balcony on the visitors side overlooks the court.
A large rocket logo accentuates the floor at center court, with "Lowellville" adorning each baseline, and basketballs drawn at each foul line. The outside of the court is colored navy blue, as is the 3-point area.
"It's beautiful. It's state of the art," Hynes said. "It's wide open."
Scoreboards at each end of the gym allow fans to view players' point totals and fouls, and read messages.
The cafeteria is located outside the gym and will include two 36-inch televisions, which, Ballone hopes, will show game action live.
"Our place has been worn down. We've put a lot of money into it over the years," Ballone explained of the current gym, which is 50 years old.
Lowellville replaced its floor in the gym about seven years ago, Ballone said, but a leaky roof caused some damage. The roof has been a problem off and on since.
Left over
There has been discussion of holding a silent auction for items in the old school, located at 21 East Walnut St.
Ballone said the basketball hoops and scoreboards are still in good condition and may be of interest to other schools.
The school may be torn down in the spring, Ballone added, and that land, owned by the district, may be used for playgrounds.
Before that, however, the Lowellville boys have one final say.
"We need something to kick-start us right now," Hynes said. "The whole idea of closing out one gym and opening up a new gym is like a breath of fresh air and a new opportunity.
"Once we get that first win of the season, I honestly think we'll be OK."
Especially if it comes Friday.
richesson@vindy.com